On May 31, 1889, the negligently maintained South Fork Dam on a fork of the Little Conemaugh River upstream of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, burst after heavy rain. Water rushed downstream and flooded Johnstown within minutes, killing over two-thousand people, the largest loss of civilian life in the United States at the time. Almost all those killed were low-income families who lived in the valley, where Johnstown was situated. The wealthier families lived on the hills and almost all survived with little, if any, property damage. The 1889 Johnstown Flood exemplifies which sociological interpretation of the environment?
The way societies are structured can powerfully impact how people experience natural hazards.
Humans' effect on the environment are largely beneficial for both people and nature.
The concept of "environment" is socially produced.
The environment exists solely for human consumption.
Answer (1)
The 1889 Johnstown Flood illustrates how societal structures affect the impact of natural hazards on different populations, especially regarding socioeconomic status. Most fatalities occurred among low-income families, while wealthier families largely survived, showcasing contrasting experiences of the disaster. This reflects the sociological interpretation of how societal conditions shape the vulnerability and experiences of communities during environmental crises. ;
